Mines

An account, with testimony of several people, of a mine accident resulting in the death of a number of miners. The documents, unfortunately, are barely legible in many places because of ink seepage, But, provided they can be deciphered, may be of some interest to historians of mining. It seems that considerable attention is directed to the location and recovery of the bodies of those killed in the accident. (C. Needham) (1975)

Francisco de Lima, Vezino, Miner of Parral, empowers Antonio de Aldana, residente of Parral, Vezino of San Salvador, to carry 4550 pesos in silver from his mine to Durango to be banked. (R. Davis) (1975)

Don Bartolome requests final recognition of his purchase of the mine San Joseph from Don Joseph Barrazas. The lt. Allows a couple months after public notice of sale and after some nondescript testimony finalizes ownership of mine by Bartolome. Persons- Bartolome de las Reyes, Vezino and Miner of San Diego; capt. Alonso Garcia de Cardinas, lt. Of Alcalde mayor; Don Joseph Barrazas. (R. Davis) (1975)

In this rambling document the citizens-hacienda owners are writing to the king via the Audiencia in Guadalajara and also thru the cabildo there that times are tough in Parral area the haciendas have been subject to Indian raids and the Weather is bad, food is needed. This seems to be a response to a routine (?) Visit by Andres and hernanco and they are to carry the ward back. Persons- Juan de Aguileta, Alcalde mayor of San Joseph de Parral; Hernando Enriquez del Calle (catillo?), public Scribe of Guadalajara cabildo; Andres Venegas de Torres, procurador of cabildo of Guadalajara. Vezinos and mineros- Domingo de Apressa Falcon; Phelipe Montano de la Cuerva (order of Santiago); Sebastian Gonzalez de Valdez; Bachillero Diego de Rivera Zapata; Diego de Arballo; alfarez Valerio Cortes; Domingo Lorenco; capt. Juan Leal; capt. Estevan de Icuario. (R. Davis) (1975)

Authorization and appointment of Valerio as official Ensayador. (R. Davis) (1977)

In this document Joseph de Santa Cruz declares that he will pay Don Diego de Cristiesca y Vasconcelos 600 pesos in gold (common) for ^crowning^ (diadenabidad) or opening his mine, and upon completion of project will present Don Diego with other goods including a female Negro slave named ^beatris^ of 12 or 13 years. A payment of 2 gold pesos a day extra will be added to the principle if the cigeral payment is late. Persons- Joseph de Santa Cruz, citizen; Diego de Cristiesca y Vasconcelos, citizen and evidently mining engineer; Beatris, Esclava Negra. (Roger Davis) (1975)

A petition on the part of gov. Valdez that the government dispatch commissions of the residencia to prevent malpractices on the part of private persons in the mines of the real. (C. Needham) (1975)

A very general plan to develop mining and the pearl industry in Sonora and Sinaloa which are both in sad states. If the crown would allow a company to be formed the melancholy state of these industries would be vastly improved. (G. Miller) (1977)

The letter notifies the crown of the death of bishop Pedro de Ayala, the sending of a book printed in Mexico City to Spain, persons and the general state of affairs in the bishopric of Guadalajara including many facts on the villages north of Guadalajara. Of special interest are distances between villages, populations, biographical data on priests, mining sights and which priest lives there, errection of churches, etc. (G. Miller) (1977)

General index listing expedientes from Nuevo Leon during years of Indians, and judicial affairs. Establishment of monthly postal service between Monterrey and San Luis Potosi, establishment of mission in Valle Viejo are also mentioned. Wedding of Echeagaray to Maria Teresa Basante mentioned as well. (J. Acheson, December 1988)